Walter t



(No Model.)

W. T.. MARTIN.

, LAST.

No. 331,313. Patented Dec. 1, 1885.

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V N rd f 2 3 m 1% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

WALTER T. MARTIN, OF DANVERS, MASSACHUSETTS.

LAST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,313, dated December 1, 1885. Application filed August 14, 1885. Serial No. 174,379. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER T. MARTIN, of panvers, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and 5 iibasts, of which the following is a specificaion.

My invention contemplates the lasting of a boot, the inner sole of which is split laterally from its edges substantially to its midro dle line, leaving the upper or surface layer of considerable thickness and integral with the lower portion only by a narrow ligature left uncut along the middle of the sole. With the sole so out the upper layer or flaps, although I5 cut'of considerable thickness, may be turned upright to a vertical position around the sole, leaving practically the entire sole uncovered for the reception of the tacks and stitches, and thus a lining may be entirely dispensed with, and yet the face of the inner sole present a smooth surface in the completed boot, as the tacks and stitches will be disposed between the said two layers.

The improved last is provided with a nar- :5 row deep slot in its face, to hold the said flaps in an upright position away from the body of the sole while the boot is lasted.

In the drawings I have shown my improved last, and, further, I have illustrated the man: ner in which it is to be used.

Figurel is aplan of theface of my improved last, showing the slot. Fig. 2 is a side view of a sole split as above described; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the sole, showing the posltion of the flaps when fitted into the slot of the last.

L is the body of an armored last having a deep and narrow longitudinal slot, 8, cut in the middle of its face.

S is the inner sole/split laterally from its edges into two portions, the upper or surface portlon forming the flaps f, united to the sole proper, S, by a narrow ligature or unsevered portion, Z.

In using my improved last the flaps f of the sole are first turned up on each side of the ligature Z at right angles to the sole, and at the heel and toe the flaps are folded again transversely, as shown at Fig. 3. The flaps 50f are then introduced into the slot 8 of the last, bringing its armored face into contact with the sole, and thus leaving practically the entire face of the sole proper, S, uncovered for the reception of the lasting-tacks, as

useful Improvement in.

aforesaid. After the boot has been lasted the 5 5 last is readily removed. Finally, the flaps are to be pasted and flattened down over the tacks and stitches used in bottoming the boot.

The folds of the flaps may be made by passing them through rollers preparatory to inserting them in the slot, as above described, or they may be folded gradually from end to end during the process of running them into the slot.

It is desirable to use a thick flap, although 6 it is less flexible, and therefore not readily manipulated, because it makes a better covering for the tacks and stitches, giving the inner sole of the completed boot a smooth and unroughened surface, and it has not the tend- 7o ency of a thin flap to curl up at the edge in wear; but by myimprovement it may be readily manipulated, as described.

I am aware that armored lasts heretofore produced have been provided with a recess or marginal groove to receive turned back edges or flaps of the inner sole; but such flaps have been very narrow and thin, and when folded back into the recess of the last occupied aposition substantially parallel with the face of the sole, the whole surface of the flap lying down upon and in contact with the sole. The recess of the last therefore has been altogether too shallow to receive the flaps when folded back perpendicularly, as above described, and, moreover, would not admit of the refolding of the perpendicular flaps attheir ends. Still further, in the old form the armor of the sole around the recess or marginal groove was of necessity exceed- 0 ingly narrow, and, finally, with my method of constructing the last and applying the sole not only is a much larger armored surface exposed to the tacks, but also the springy nature of the flaps will of itself hold the sole in its place 5 upon the last when it has been once applied.

In the old last the springy nature of the flaps tends to throw the sole off of the last.

I claim- An armored last provided with a deep and narrow slot along the middle of" its face to receive the flaps of the sole, split from the edges approximately to the middle, and hold them in a vertical position, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

W'itnesses: WALTER T. MARTIN.

W. W. SWAN, WALDRON Barns.

IOO 

